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TMS & age/aging

Discussion in 'General Discussion Subforum' started by Mala, Dec 15, 2020.

  1. Mala

    Mala Well known member

    Been meaning to start a discussion on this topic & it would be great to get some views.

    1.Is recovery from TMS harder when one is older like in their 60s or 70s?

    2. What is the difference between growing old aches & pains & TMS ?

    3. If TMS has nothing to do with joint deterioration, disc problems etc why do so many older people suffer from aches & pain?

    thank you

    Mala
     
    Mala, Dec 15, 2020
    #1
  2. birdsetfree

    birdsetfree Well known member

    In my opinion, Tms recovery is not harder when one is older if one accepts the diagnosis fully. My dad, who is 82, developed severe sciatic pain after working in the garden. He went for an MRI and was told he had bulging discs. His doctor sent him for a steroid injection but this only helped for a week so I approached him with the Tms theory. As he had seen me recover from chronic pain using Dr Sarno's methods, he was open to this and within a day all his pain vanished and did not return. He had been in severe pain for a few weeks. Would he have been able to be so open minded about this without witnessing my recovery, I'm not sure?

    As we get older we tend grow deeper into our habitual thought patterns and mindsets. This can compound the psychologically induced chronic pain issue. I also think that a lot of older people believe they will have aches and pains as they grow older and therefore 'give up' being active and this creates weakness and stiffness and pain. I've also seen older people who are optimistic and active that are pain free and even partaking in marathons!
     
    birdsetfree, Dec 16, 2020
    #2
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  3. TG957

    TG957 Beloved Grand Eagle

    I agree with @birdsetfree . It is not a matter of age, but rather a matter of doubts and resistance to the concept of TMS. I recovered at age of 58-59, there quite a few people here who made full recovery while in their 60-ies and 70-ies. I would say in my case age was a positive factor as I gained a bit more wisdom as I got older. When I was young I was less open to listening to others, and, ironically, it was my TMS experience that made me more receptive to other views.
     
    TG957, Dec 16, 2020
    #3
    Mala likes this.
  4. Ellen

    Ellen Beloved Grand Eagle

    I think some of the body and cognitive changes that are a normal part of aging can serve as a vehicle for TMS, just as an injury or illness can sometimes lead to TMS. I have seen myself start TMSing about being stiff and creaky at times. Immediately assuming it must be something serious, and then creating more pain from this fear and worry. At a deeper level, I think it can trigger our fears about our own mortality and a loss of independence and autonomy. Fortunately, I recognized it as TMS before it got too out of hand.
     
    Ellen, Dec 17, 2020
    #4
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  5. intense50

    intense50 Well known member

    Did he simply accept the info or did he notice something within himself was bothering him?
     
    intense50, Dec 14, 2024
    #5
  6. JanAtheCPA

    JanAtheCPA Beloved Grand Eagle

    Ack, @intense50! You know better than this, don't you? This question is a classic distraction created by your primitive TMS brain, trying to fool you into searching for a distinction that is meaningless!

    To be even more blunt, this is an avoidance technique, keeping you from doing what you really need to do, and the TMS brain mechanism is reeeally super-skilled at it.

    I KNOW you know this in your rational brain, having been recently reminded of your success from 8 years ago. And... I just figured out that you are approaching that wonderful milestone of turning 60. It's no wonder that your rational brain is allowing itself to be distracted with just about anything else. Been there, Al. Done that. I was in a pretty dire TMS crisis the year I turned 60, which was 2011 - fortunately I stumbled across Dr Sarno and this forum and got my life back before the year was out. Aging ain't for sissies, for sure, but 13 years later I'm still in better shape at 73 than I was at 60, thanks to "the work" which I still need to do to eliminate flares. World dysfunction doesn't help.

    Anyway, it's time to stop bs-ing around and just do the work. Get out the pen and paper, and list these four topics:
    Isolation/Abandonment
    Freedom
    Meaning
    Mortality

    The order is not significant, although personally I believe that isolation and abandonment are so important, that you could both start and end with them, because new connections will reveal themselves within the other topics.

    Take some deep breaths, face the resistance with courage and commitment, and start writing.
     
    JanAtheCPA, Dec 14, 2024
    #6
    Mala, Diana-M and intense50 like this.
  7. intense50

    intense50 Well known member

    Thank you
     
    intense50, Dec 14, 2024
    #7
  8. Diana-M

    Diana-M Beloved Grand Eagle

    Jan, thanks for your amazing example, guidance and inspiration! :)
     
    Diana-M, Dec 14, 2024
    #8

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